Sunshine
17th January 2007, 02:43 PM
Quite shocking.............:angry:
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 (New Delhi):
In the latest twist in the ongoing controversy over Shilpa Shetty, the British Police will now investigate emails that have threatened Shilpa's housemates.
It is two days after the first complaints started coming in that the Bollywood actress had been a victim of racism on the UK reality TV show Big Brother.
Channel 4, the company that produces the show, has received two threatening emails against a number of Shilpa's housemates.
Save Shilpa campaign
A save Shilpa Shetty campaign is gaining momentum in the United Kingdom.
The British-Asian community is now actively championing Shilpa's cause with campaigns on the Internet and SMS.
One of the sponsors of the show, Carphone Warehouse, a mobile phone retailer, is rethinking it's sponsorship after the racism allegations.
British Asian author and actress Meera Syal has strongly criticized Britain's Channel 4.
Syal, who is a leading opinion maker among the South-Asian community in the United Kingdom and a vocal supporter of the rights of Asian women, said, "There is a very thin line between what is entertainment and a vile spectacle and I think we are in that area now."
Media watchdog Ofcom has received more than 7,000 letters complaining about how Shilpa was targeted by her housemates.
On Tuesday, the matter was even raised in the House of Commons by Labour MP Keith Vaz who said this behaviour was unacceptable.
Shilpa has been having an exceptionally hard time dealing with the racist slurs on the wildly popular reality show aired on Britain's Channel Four.
A few of her nine housemates that are accused of racism are Jack Tweede, who called the Bollywood actress "a Paki" while Jade Goody said Shilpa "made her skin crawl."
Goody's mother, who was also on the show, refused to call Shetty anything but "the Indian." The mother has now been evicted.
Viewers complain
The channel's website has viewers writing in their complaints as well.
"I have been watching her ordeal over the last few days with increasing discomfort that has now turned to utter disgust at the blatant displays of ignorance and racism by her fellow housemates," remarked a viewer.
Others have referred to Shilpa's tormentors as the 'terrible trio' of Jade, Jo, Danielle and want them evicted.
The producers of Channel 4 say they will take racism seriously and are monitoring all the housemates before taking appropriate measures.
Growing popularity
Outside the studios, Shilpa appears to be enjoying tremendous popularity.
It is perhaps partly because she's got a big following within and outside the large South Asian community and also because of her budding romance with one of the contestants.
"Actually we get a daily update of the odds from Labrokes as to who is the favourite in the house, and today the odds are that Shilpa and Dirk are the joint favourites at the moment," said Laura Atkinson, Showbiz editor, More magazine.
"So, I think she's got a pretty good chance. I think the budding romance with Dirk is quite interesting because he's obviously very keen on her. I think she's playing it very well and I think if she continues that's going to keep the public's interest in her," she added.
Shilpa's sister Shamita has played down the controversy saying: "I'm very proud of her for handling it all so well. She comes from a very protected family."
When Shilpa joined the show she had said that she wanted to keep her self-respect and dignity intact. While she may have got a lot more than she bargained for the Bollywood actress has certainly made a splash. Perhaps just the kind of stuff Big Brother thrives on.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 (New Delhi):
In the latest twist in the ongoing controversy over Shilpa Shetty, the British Police will now investigate emails that have threatened Shilpa's housemates.
It is two days after the first complaints started coming in that the Bollywood actress had been a victim of racism on the UK reality TV show Big Brother.
Channel 4, the company that produces the show, has received two threatening emails against a number of Shilpa's housemates.
Save Shilpa campaign
A save Shilpa Shetty campaign is gaining momentum in the United Kingdom.
The British-Asian community is now actively championing Shilpa's cause with campaigns on the Internet and SMS.
One of the sponsors of the show, Carphone Warehouse, a mobile phone retailer, is rethinking it's sponsorship after the racism allegations.
British Asian author and actress Meera Syal has strongly criticized Britain's Channel 4.
Syal, who is a leading opinion maker among the South-Asian community in the United Kingdom and a vocal supporter of the rights of Asian women, said, "There is a very thin line between what is entertainment and a vile spectacle and I think we are in that area now."
Media watchdog Ofcom has received more than 7,000 letters complaining about how Shilpa was targeted by her housemates.
On Tuesday, the matter was even raised in the House of Commons by Labour MP Keith Vaz who said this behaviour was unacceptable.
Shilpa has been having an exceptionally hard time dealing with the racist slurs on the wildly popular reality show aired on Britain's Channel Four.
A few of her nine housemates that are accused of racism are Jack Tweede, who called the Bollywood actress "a Paki" while Jade Goody said Shilpa "made her skin crawl."
Goody's mother, who was also on the show, refused to call Shetty anything but "the Indian." The mother has now been evicted.
Viewers complain
The channel's website has viewers writing in their complaints as well.
"I have been watching her ordeal over the last few days with increasing discomfort that has now turned to utter disgust at the blatant displays of ignorance and racism by her fellow housemates," remarked a viewer.
Others have referred to Shilpa's tormentors as the 'terrible trio' of Jade, Jo, Danielle and want them evicted.
The producers of Channel 4 say they will take racism seriously and are monitoring all the housemates before taking appropriate measures.
Growing popularity
Outside the studios, Shilpa appears to be enjoying tremendous popularity.
It is perhaps partly because she's got a big following within and outside the large South Asian community and also because of her budding romance with one of the contestants.
"Actually we get a daily update of the odds from Labrokes as to who is the favourite in the house, and today the odds are that Shilpa and Dirk are the joint favourites at the moment," said Laura Atkinson, Showbiz editor, More magazine.
"So, I think she's got a pretty good chance. I think the budding romance with Dirk is quite interesting because he's obviously very keen on her. I think she's playing it very well and I think if she continues that's going to keep the public's interest in her," she added.
Shilpa's sister Shamita has played down the controversy saying: "I'm very proud of her for handling it all so well. She comes from a very protected family."
When Shilpa joined the show she had said that she wanted to keep her self-respect and dignity intact. While she may have got a lot more than she bargained for the Bollywood actress has certainly made a splash. Perhaps just the kind of stuff Big Brother thrives on.